It’s expected to be another gorgeous weekend here in Ottawa. With temperatures on the mid-20s and the rain finally giving us a break for the next couple days, it should be lovely. If you aren’t stealing away to a cottage or heading off on a late-summer road trip, check out some of these great Ottawa events happening this weekend:
CentreTown Movies
Bring your best blanket and your favourite snacks for a night of movie matching in Dundonald Park in Central Ottawa. Starting at 9pm each night, Friday’s feature film is The Hundred Food Journey. This 2014 movie starring Helen Mirren is about a feud between two restaurants in a small French town – one owned by an Indian family, while the other is a Michelin-starred venue. On Saturday, The Wizard of Oz takes centre stage. If your kids haven’t seen it yet, there’s no better time or place!
Empire Stage Show
Book a sitter and come to Lansdowne Park for Empire, a night of “somersaulting, slapsticking & stripteasing.” “Spiegelworld comes to town with its sumptuous 700-seat spiegeltent and wondrous beer garden. This heritage traveling venue, made of antique wood, beveled mirrors and stained glass, features the most intimate three meter stage in town.” Tonight is the final show in Ottawa, so don’t miss your chance to pick up a pair of tickets!
1001 Nights: An Arabian Night in Ottawa
Expect the unexpected at 1001 Nights: An Arabian Night in Ottawa, taking place this evening at the Canadian War Museum. Test your bargaining skills at the bazaar, where crafts, spices, jewellery, and clothing are on sale. Decorate your skin with free Henna body art. Glance at the future as you sit down with a fortune teller. Learn the steps of Dabke, a traditional Middle Eastern group dance. Finally, enjoy a live performance by a traditional belly dancer. Tickets are $30 plus fees.
Arboretum Music Festival
Head to Albert Island in the Ottawa River (a short walk from the Canadian War Museum) for the Arboretum Music Festival, which runs until Saturday night. This “intimate and immersive boutique music festival” is a celebration of the musical arts scene in the Ottawa region and promoting cultural awareness. In addition to great local music, there is awesome food from local chefs, vendors, and breweries. Tickets are $25 per day, or $40 for a weekend pass. Kids 10 and under are free.
Mötley Crüe
Heavy metal icons Mötley Crüe bring their final tour, “All Bad Things Must End” comes to Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday night. Come see Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Tommy Lee and Mick Mars play the hits like “Girls Girls Girls,” “Shout at the Devil,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Kickstart My Heart.” Tickets are still available, and unless there’s a final final tour on the horizon, this is your last chance to see these glam rock legends live and in the flesh. Combined with special guest Alice Cooper, this promises to be a pretty wild night.
Greek Fest
One of Ottawa’s most celebrated cultural events wraps up on Sunday at the Hellenic Meeting & Reception Centre on Prince of Wales. Ottawa Greek Fest features amazing Greek cuisine, coffee, desserts, cooking demonstrations, dance groups, music, art, church tours, kids activities, the Zorba show…these are just some of the entertaining things you can expect to see this weekend. Admission is free and this is definitely a family-friendly event.
